How can you afford college in the UK if you’re a Nigerian student? There are more than 800 universities in the UK, with thousands of different scholarships that come with them. Finding the right one may seem impossible. Luckily, we’ve put together this list of the top 10 scholarships for Nigerian students in the UK, so that you don’t have to worry about it anymore!
List Of Scholarships for Nigerian Students in the UK
- Level оf Study: Undergrаduаte, Graduates, PhD
- Institutiоn(s): Different institutes in the UK
- Study in: UK
- Рrоgrаm Рeriоd: Fоur yeаrs, 2 years
- Deadline: Varies for each scholarship
1) Commonwealth Scholarship Program
If you’re a citizen of Nigeria, you’re eligible to apply for Commonwealth scholarships: New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Jamaica, and South Africa. You may be eligible for a scholarship depending on your country of residence and course of study (or even career goals). For instance, if you live in South Africa or Jamaica and want to study law at a U.K. university, it’s worth checking out whether your government offers specific scholarships that cover tuition fees and living expenses.
2) The Chevening scholarships for Nigerian students in the UK
The Chevening Award is available to international students. It provides a package of awards, each with its own set of entry requirements and selection criteria. For example, some awards are only open to candidates who want to study a specific subject or are studying at a specific institution, while others are open to all international students in general. To win one of these scholarships you’ll need to apply through your chosen institution as part of its application process.
And it’s always worth contacting any scholarships you’re interested in directly just to make sure that applications haven’t closed and that there aren’t any eligibility requirements you haven’t met—you don’t want to miss out on an opportunity because you’ve not made sure you’ve ticked every box!
3) GSM Ambassadors Scheme
This scholarship program, sponsored by GSM Magazine, is open to all students from Nigeria and runs alongside Global Student Marketing’s annual conference. The award covers flight, accommodation, and entry to GSMA 2024 as well as tickets to some of London’s top attractions. For more information about the GSM Ambassadors Programme click here.
4) Fulbright Commission
The U.S. State Department offers grants through its Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to students from a variety of countries, including Nigeria. Fulbright scholarships for Nigerian students in the UK are awarded to students seeking an education abroad and will be selected based on their academic merit and leadership skills. For more information on eligibility requirements, visit Fulbright’s website.
Note:
* Please note that not all scholarship programs listed here may be available at the time of publication. Check with relevant institutions directly to verify your eligibility status as well as the terms and conditions associated with each award.*
5) Diaspora Engagement Programme (DEP)
If you are a returning British citizen or are not currently domiciled in Nigeria but have strong links with Nigeria and intend to use these links to develop partnerships between Nigeria and UK institutions, then you may be eligible for a Diaspora Engagement Scholarship (DEP). The DEP will cover tuition fees at any undergraduate or postgraduate level offered by a partnering institution.
DEP aims to bring together people from different countries with their unique skills, experiences, and insights which they can use to work together on common challenges. It is expected that applicants will be highly motivated individuals who want to make a difference within their country of origin or elsewhere. They should also be willing to take part in extra-curricular activities including voluntary work and internships etc.
6) British Council Africa Education Awards (ACEA)
These awards are made to outstanding young people between 16 and 24 who have had exceptional experiences and/or achieved outstanding results on educational trips, internships, or other cultural learning opportunities within Africa. They are also available to African students from outside Africa who are studying on educational trips or programs of a similar nature. The prize can be used towards an undergraduate course at a UK university. If you would like to apply for one of these awards, you must visit the British Council website by Friday 6 Dec 2024.
7) The Shell LiveWIRE Competition scholarships for Nigerian students in the UK
This competition is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students of African descent from across Africa, Asia, and Oceania. You don’t have to be studying at a university in one of Shell’s operating territories either – you can be based anywhere on Earth.
However, applicants should live or work close to universities within Shell’s operating territories so they can attend mentoring events during their university holidays if shortlisted. Winners get £3,000 towards their tuition fees, which makes it a serious option for financially struggling students as well as those wanting some extra funding. The application deadline is May 20, 2024. Learn more about eligibility and how to apply on Nando’s website.
8) The Next Einstein Forum Fellowship
This fellowship, named after Albert Einstein himself, is designed to give young Africans an opportunity to pursue PhD studies in physics at Cambridge University. (Not only is it one of the 10 best for Nigerian students; but it’s also one of several fellowships aimed at people from developing countries.) Fellows have access to extensive funding, both during their studies and while they are conducting research.
The fellowship comes with a £30,000 annual stipend that covers living expenses plus support with health insurance. In addition, fellows receive generous research funding on top of tuition and other student fees. At most, fellowship winners can expect to receive about £70K per year—far more than what a postgraduate scholarship or even a foreign student loan would provide.
9) Chempolis Foundation Undergraduate Bursary Award (CBUA).
The CBUA provides awards to students of exceptional promise and potential, and whose personal circumstances render them unable to meet their university costs without financial assistance. Although most CBUAs will be awarded to students undertaking full-time undergraduate degrees, provision is also made for postgraduate study.
For example, students studying towards a Masters’s degree can apply for an award of up to £3000 per year. The deadline for applications is in mid-October each year, but earlier applications tend to be given preference by Chempolis. To be eligible you must have recently completed your A’Levels or equivalent; you must live in Nigeria (or Ghana); and you must currently be at school/college or studying at university elsewhere on a scholarship or bursary scheme.
10) Ladipo Familoye Foundation Awards
The Ladipo Familoye Foundation awards grants to undergraduate students studying at London universities and colleges. To be eligible for these scholarships for Nigerian students in UK, applicants must have been born in Nigeria or have come to live there permanently at an early age and hold a minimum of three GCSEs at grades A*-C (or their equivalent). The grant can be used to support their tuition fees, maintenance, or accommodation costs. Although applications close on December 31 each year, funding is limited so they advise completing your application well before then if you want to stand a chance of being considered. A quick search on Google reveals that there are opportunities available for 2024 entry.
(Further details on each scholarship are also covered on our website just browse and apply)
Happy learning 🙂
You should also apply for:
